Many Indy Stars Revere The Salt

Astonishingly, until this year, I had awhile and get your lakester running! other car was a rear engine. racing luck with mixed results. never covered “the greatest spectacle”, End personal segue. Reaching way back, we find my all- Indy Ace drove aka the Indy 500. As a veteran motor- Let’s start with names that most LSR time land speed racing hero, Frank on the salt in 1955 setting 18 Internation- sports journalist, my brain would have folks know, but may not realize they had Lockhart who, at the 1926 al Records in the F Class (1.500 cc) exploded to just be a spectator, so I put ties to Indiana oval. Those people that 500, was a relief driver for Peter Kreis’s records in an OSCA sports car with together a little track lapping activity. have a year and speed in parentheses indi- eight cylinder supercharged Miller. He c-driver Marshall Lewis. The idea was for land speed, drag, jet cates Bonneville 200MPH Club won the race becoming the fourth rookie Among other Indy racers who also and rocket racer Paula Murphy, aka “Miss membership. ever to do so. Lockhart, you will remem- drove on the salt you’ll find such names STP” to reprise her milestone role as the For instance, cheerful and always ber, together with the Stutz Automobile as: , , Jack McGrath, first woman ever allowed to drive a race charming Leroy Newmayer (1953 Company, broke World Land Speed Cliff Bergere, Wilbur D’Alene, Bud Rose, car upon the venerable brickyard oval. -211.390MPH) built engines for A.J. Foyt Record in 1926 recording an average of Manny Ayulo, Billy Scott, Joe Nikrent, Without , and was Tony Adamowicz’s crew chief at 164.28 MPH. Dempsey Wilsom, Jimmy Jackson. Motor Division, the Indianapolis Motor the 1970 Indy 500. Multiple speed record Ab Jenkins, the “king of Bonneville While not Indy drivers, many Indy Speedway Public Rela- racers”, entered a Stude- celebs got in their early speed licks at the tions and Photography baker-powered Rigling dry lakes. They are: Sandy Belond and staff, the deed would driven by Tony Gulotta in Frank Curtis, whose cars later won the not have been done. the 1931 Indy 500. Son Indy 500; Lou Fagole was an Indy car It was in the early Marvin Jenkins did some owner; Bob Estes drove on Muroc before ‘60s that Granatelli NOVI test-driving at Indy. World War II then sponsored cars at brought the howling Danny “on-the-gas” Indy. Indy whizz kids Jim Travers and 800HP+ Novi engine Ongais qualified for a doz- Frank Coon raced at the lakes. Efferves- to Indy. Murphy en 500s and also drove a cent Louie Senter brought cars to the climbed in distinguish- new 1969 Mustang on the lakes and the salt. ing herself with a few salt in 1968 for Mickey Metal master, Quinn Epperly, noted perfect laps before Thompson. Ongais helped for his Spirit of America hand-formed stopping in the pits to set National and Interna- aluminum bodywork, built a variety of touch-up her lipstick. tional Class C records Indy car bodies. The 167.28 CID endurance records averag- How about the mechanics? A great STP/Novi V8 had a ing nearly 160 MPH in many brickyard wrench-spinning notables revised 2-stage centrif- wet, slippery salt for 500 also distinguished themselves on the salt, ugal supercharger with miles. many setting records. They include: Har- bore and stroke of 3.2 Lakes racer Chuck ry Miller who designed the record-setting x 2.6 in. The engine Daigh tried, but wasn’t fast Gulf-Miller; Jean Marcenac, Chief never found its way enough to qualify for the Mechanic on NOVI; Jerry Eisert ran into the Indy winner’s 500 a couple of times. Stu Muroc and was a top USAC mechanic in circles, but few engines Hilborn’s Fuel Injector has the 1960s, the same for Indy chief were as celebrated in . setter Mike Nish (1996 - 304.700MPH) 34 wins at the . mechanic Pete Clark. After a quick photo session under the competed in four CART races. Barney Navarro attempted to get Phil Remington, who can build or fix Gasoline Alley Sign we moved onto pit Ermie Immerso (1956 - one of his cars qualified for the Indy 500 anything on any race car, started at the row for a few more shots. Lyn St. James 212.900MPH) was involved with the for three years in the late 1960s, but han- lakes and went to Indy with Gurney’s stopped by to lend her support and then Ford Indy engines, crewed for Jimmy dling and driver problems kept the car off Eagles; Indy mechanic Willie Utzman; it was time for Paula’s laps. Bryan at the ‘54 Indianapolis 500 and the starting grid. Powered by a twin tur- Bonneville racer Dick Russell built Indy She eased the 2010 silver Camaro worked for as the engine- bocharged 199 cubic inch Rambler engine engines for . turned out in its “500” colors out of the shop foreman during the ‘60s. with Navarro-designed mechanical fuel Stewart Van Dyne built engines for pit lane chute making for the middle of Mickey Thompson (1958 - injection, it put out over 700 horsepower. lakes and Bonneville cars as well as an turn one. I marveled at how effortlessly 266.860MPH) the ultimate salt warrior, Mechanical genius Bruce Crower Indy-winning motor for . Murphy reconnected with the track built a number of Indy cars during his who ran many forward-thinking vehicles Johnny Moore, the Firestone repre- although it had been decades since last storied racing career. He was, in 1962, the on the salt was invited to work on the sentative who brought race tires to the she was upon its banked surface. The laps first to have a rear engine, aluminum Offy-powered Dean Van Lines Indianap- salt that significantly improved the breed, were perfect every time. stock block Buick V8 car qualify at the olis racing car with in 1954. worked the garages and suites at Indy. Decades ago, it was commonplace Indy 500 with Dan Gurney driving. They qualified on the front row and fin- Did you know that Carroll Shelby for people, cars and parts to move among Rear engine again in 1963, but now ished second. Six years later, working on set endurance records in an Austin-Healy various motorsports segments and I won- powered by Small Block Chevrolet, M/T ’s team, they won the 1960 at the salt? He later brought a turbine car dered how many “Indy Car” big names had two cars qualify. The drivers were race and was again working with the win- to Indy with Ken Wallace. had experienced the speed lure of Bonn- who qualified 15th and Al ners as a member of ’s team, Tommy Lee and Mal Ord drove at eville. Miller who qualified 31st. and a final time in 1967 with the A.J. Foyt the lakes and when Lee entered a car at A call to LSR historian and sweet- M/T managed two more qualifiers in team. Indy Ord was his Chief mechanic. Lakes heart of a guy, Jim Miller, yielded a 1964. The cars were driven by rookie Fred Carrillo, who ran the lakes and racers Hal and George Robson both went treasure trove of names. Miller’s father, driver Dave MacDonald who qualified lost a leg in a Bonneville crash, owned to Indy to drive and George won in 1946. Eddie Miller Sr., was not only an Indy 14th and Eddie Johnson who qualified racecars and had an entry in the India- You can win a race anywhere in the Car driver, but also a AAA Contest Board 24th. There was a crash on the first lap napolis 500 for 10 years, never failing to world, but it is only one race and unless observer for many Bonneville-based and MacDonald was killed. qualify with partner Doug Champlin. you win every one after that, your World Land Speed Record runs. By 1967 it was an all-new theme for Indy 500 winners A.J. Foyt, Wilber achievement is eclipsed by those who Begin personal segue: Jim, thanks M/T at Indy. One was a front engine all Shaw, Eddie Meyer, and Bob- buddy, but forget those damn archives for wheel drive and all wheel steer, and the by Unser have all tried their land speed Continued on page 217 14 ❙ September.2009

Gaz_Sept09.inddGaz Sept09.indd 14 7/15/09 9:21:42 AM Fuel For Thought My web site has many of my models, Proverbs. Proverbs 4:1 helps to focus on Make: Studebaker Commander Continued from Page 14 featuring the Goodguys feature models what is an ultimate desire in a good father and several models from the 1970’s, dis- and son relationship. “Hear, O sons, a Engine: come after you. At Bonneville, the mea- played with complete descriptions. The father’s instruction, and be attentive that GM LT1 350, EFI, Hedman sure is made against the clocks, not your address is: www.sonic.net/~joymkrs/dahm you may gain insight…” while Proverbs headers, Ron Francis ignition contemporaries. Some records stand for Modeling questions? Email them to 10:1 as well as repeated in 15:20 that decades and that is why a land speed me at: [email protected]. I will be happy reads, “A wise son makes a glad father...” Drivetrain: record set upon the Bonneville Salt Flats to answer your questions by email and I believe to this end, Marc has done that 4L60E trans with a Lokar Shifter is a pedigree that many Indianapolis rac- some of your questions may appear in very thing, not only with his dad Gary, ers decided they just had to have. future columns! Be sure to mention but with his mom Marilyn as well. Goodguys in your emails! As for the next generation, might the Chassis: Stock, S10 front clip, customized picture of Marc & Jess Ann’s son Grant Good Tips rear with a triangulated Camaro Note: Photojournalist Louise Ann give us hope for yet another generation Continued from Page 200 rear and a Chevy S10 differential. Noeth is the authoress of the award-win- hooked on motorsports coming up in the ning book, “Bonneville: The Fastest Place give you when welding, cutting, or grind- footsteps of Grandpa Gary and Marc? I Wheels/Tires: on Earth,” a complete historical review of ing under a car. Who hasn’t had a hot think so, which leaves us with a pretty 17x8 and 17x9.5” American Racing the first 50 years of land speed racing now weld “berry” find your ear, not to men- confident understanding that “It ‘Runs’ in Salt Flats. in its 7th and final printing. Publisher tion your eye? the Family?” MBI has informed Noeth when the cur- Finally, be sure to have a second set Call about space availability for your Body: rent inventory is sold the book will not be of eyes review your work. This is done on son or grandson to attend a CRA Hot 1953 Studebaker Commander, reprinted. For more details and to order, racecars and aircraft, since the original Rod Camp next year. An autographed custom fi rewall and radiator go to: www.landspeedproductions.biz. technician may “assume” that a certain copy of Dale & Jeannie’s book, From Hot shroud, one-off rear pan, 2002 procedure has been followed, and that all Rods to Heaven with b/w photos of rods Camaro silver. fasteners are of the right type, length, and customs is available by writing Bangin’ The Gears tightened properly, and actually in place. ($10+postage) CRA, PO Box 309, Valley Interior: Continued from Page 16 Paint and powder coating can load up in Springs, CA 95252. (209) 786-0524; cra@ 1962 Studebaker Hawk GT dash, drilled holes, so check those particularly integrity.com; www.christianrodders-rac- thing is fast!” he said, reaching out with a Auto Meter gauges, Billet Specialties after a couple hundred miles. It’s not ers.org crisp $100 dollar bill. steering wheel, ’98 Isuzu seats, red uncommon for parts fastened into tapers, With a sly smile, I grabbed it, said leather upholstery. like tie rod ends, radius rod mounts, and Flashing Back “Thanks, good race.” and slipped it into ball joints to need retightening after ini- Continued from Page 216 my shirt pocket. Danny pulled open the tial assembly. That little bit of looseness, passenger door and slid in, his grin as which develops as the paint wears away, of ice-cold Kool-Aid. Then my mother wide as mine. The “poor kid” and his has led to shakes and rattles that are hard went into the house and came out with a “massaged” big block had just pulled off to trace. It’s easy to think that since they big bowl of Loganberries that she’d the greatest “pride” win. are typically secured with cotter pins, picked in the neighbor’s yard: they were they can’t get loose. That second set of cold from the refrigerator. STREET CHALLENGE Chris Hedum eyes may not make the same assumption. Then my father went into the house Casselberry, Florida and came out with an insulated package. AUTOCROSS! It held a quart of vanilla ice cream, frozen Good News Coming soon: Accidents & Incidents. hard by the lumps of dry ice that sur- Continued from Page 214 Available now: Recollections, Regrets & rounded it. Almost as exciting as the Random Acts…stories of the past from the the Camaro’s brute strength down what berries and ice cream was the dry ice, hobby’s most well known men. Roger’s can, at certain times, end up being a tricky which was rare and puzzling. It gave off a previous two books: Fast Cars, 4-speeds & track surface. white smoke, and it burned the skin: how Fist-fights and Bangin’ Gears & Bustin’ With his 218.04 mph on the asphalt could something be so cold it burned? I Heads, - about those crazy car days in the track in Sacramento and his first-ever like to drop a piece in a glass of water and 1960s, is still available. To order each or career Pro-Mod win at Super Chevy, watch the smokey bubbles rise. I assumed all 3, go to www.RAJetter.com Fontana, CA he is obviously knocking on dry ice was some sort of marvelous war- dad’s door! At the time of this writing, time invention, like radar, sonar and the Marc has now made a personal-best test atom bomb. It was something of the Table Top and tune pass of 6.39 @ 222.77 mph at future, and it was about as modern as we Continued from Page 199 Infineon Raceway which took place one were going to get. Here is the finished Electro Vette. year to the day from his first test run at The Age of Hot Rods. 198 pages, 91 www.good-guys.com The taillights were made with red reflec- this same track. Without a doubt this is an incredible run that Marc made driving photos, paperback. $39.95 (plus $2.50 tive film, available from most craft stores. S&H) - signed. Albert Drake, P.O. Box The parachute was carved from wood, a Pro Mod car. And, believe it or not, there’s still more that’s available in this 66874, Portland, OR 97290 or www.fla- sprayed flat black and detailed with a toutpress.com. “REMOVE” tag. Notice the Exhaust Hemi! Pipes? They are there just for fun! With your love for drag racing and In my next article I will show you street rodding it’s well worth your time to how to do some scratch building and check in often to the Goodguys website make a supercharged slant-4 engine! to find out about upcoming Goodguys events and to check the most recent stats on Marc and crew who are determined to 8 be a team “to be reckoned with” at the drag strip. As I look at this father and son rela- tionship, I see many similar things that I Goodguys East Coast Pick – cont’d from listed I learned from my dad, (excluding, Pg. 181 SPONSORS sadly, car stuff!) and I see several scriptur- TECH INFO al truths recorded in the book of Proverbs Owner: Yvon Landry that help to identify a little of what has Montreal, Quebec taken place in their relationship. Just a few are these found in the O.T. book of Year: 1953 www.good-guys.com ❙ 217

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